Leitz Park, Wetzlar and the Xiaomi 14

The world of Leica

The guided tour of the Leica World at Leitz Park, Wetzlar lasted for 60 minutes. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express, Shot on Xiaomi 14)

I moved out of the Ernst Leitz House hotel, situated inside the expansive Leica campus, and walked a few minutes to reach the Leica gallery. That’s when my tour began, starting with a 60-minute exploration of Leitz Park, or as it is officially known, the Leica headquarters. The building on the right is designed to resemble a lens, while the one on the left is intended to reference binoculars. Camera-inspired architecture can be observed throughout the area, including the camera “viewfinder” on the Ernst Leitz Museum building.

Leica was founded in 1914 by Ernst Leitz and boasts a rich history in photography and optics. In the early 20th century, Leica excelled in the development of 35mm cameras, making photography more accessible and portable. The first Leica camera, the Ur-Leica, was created in 1914 by Oskar Barnack and stemmed from a hobby project. However, developing a small-frame consumer camera posed a risk.

The tour starts with the Leica Gallery where you will see 36 milestone photographs from over a century of Leica. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express, Shot on Xiaomi 14)

My journey commenced at the Leica gallery, where I saw 36 important photographs spanning over a century of Leica’s history. Photos from legends such as Henri Cartier-Bresson, Alfred Eisenstaedt, Robert Capa and Nick Ut hung on the walls. You might wonder, why 36 photos? The length of a film, 36 pictures, is said to have become the standard because that was how far Oscar Barnack could stretch his arms when cutting film from larger rolls to put them into film rolls for the Leica camera.

What piqued my interest was the opportunity to see key milestone cameras that Leica has developed over the years, all in person, including initial prototypes and experimental models. One of the cameras on display was the Leica I, the world’s first commercially produced 35mm camera. The Leica camera, designed by Oscar Barnack, was a success and became the preferred camera of photojournalists and amateurs alike. It was a surreal experience, both as a journalist and a history buff, to walk down memory lane and understand the beginnings of Leica and where it stands today.

Dr. Andreas Kaufmann, the chairman of the supervisory board of Leica Camera, first acquired a stake in the company in 2004 and is now its majority shareholder. He is credited with turning around Leica and bringing the premium manufacturer of cameras back to the forefront. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express, Shot on Xiaomi 14)

As part of the tour, we then headed to the Leica factory. I wasn’t allowed to take any photographs of the factory. However, visitors can peer into the production of lenses and bodies at different stages through three glass windows. Leica cameras are manufactured using a combination of advanced technology and skilled craftsmanship. The company has a storied history of precision engineering and high-quality manufacturing, which is also evident in the design and construction of its cameras.

Our guide Ulrich Schäfer takes us through the Ur-Leica, the first 35mm still camera that would go on to define the Leica brand. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express, Shot on Xiaomi 14)

The second-last stop, as part of the guided tour, was the visit to the Ernst Leitz Museum in Wetzlar. At the entrance to the museum, I stopped for a second and wondered about what might be inside after spending half a day on the campus of a famous camera maker. Inside the building, the first thing I saw was Steve McCurry’s “Afghan Girl,” an iconic image that appeared on the June 1985 cover of National Geographic.

“The Afghan Girl” by Steve McCurry hangs on the walls of the Leica Museum. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express, Shot on Xiaomi 14)

The ground floor houses a museum shop and the Wetzlar Leica Store. Meanwhile, the main attractions are on the top level. The museum is aimed more at a general audience interested in the history of Leica, but there’s enough to also appeal to pro-photographers and Leica enthusiasts. Although I learned a lot about camera techniques through various activities, what caught my attention was the series of electronic displays for teaching darkroom techniques. It involves selecting an image ‘negative,’ which is exposed to ‘electronic paper’ in the dark, indicated by a grey display. It is then moved on by the touch screen to further trays for stop, fix, and print, which are in red to indicate the use of a safelight. The final print can be downloaded to a smartphone using WiFi and the Leitz Park App.

A rare peek at Leica’s cameras at the Leica Museum. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express, Shot on Xiaomi 14)

My group members and I took a small break before delving into the most interesting part of the tour: the cameras, lenses, and other equipment. We started with the 0 Series camera, No. 105, which was used by Oskar Barnack. I was informed that this particular camera is on loan to the museum from a collector. The camera is engraved ‘Oscar Barnack.’ It is displayed and held under tight security, given its market value is upwards of €2 million. After spending a few more minutes exploring the cameras, both known and unknown, I felt nostalgic, almost as if I were in a camera wonderland.

The Leica Nature Trail

The trail offered a perfect opportunity to spend some time in nature. I didn’t miss the chance to capture the rainbow using the Xiaomi 14. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express, Shot on Xiaomi 14)

Our tour ended with an adventure into the Leitz-Park Nature Trail. A few blocks away from the Leica campus, my group members and I embarked on the 3-kilometer trail, ready to experience a semi-jungle-like space and be closer to nature. The trail not only offered me a sense of escapism but also allowed me to capture the rawness of nature, the trees, and local flora and fauna using the Xiaomi 14.

A must visit

The Leica Museum is open from Monday to Saturday, and guided tours of the factory are available by appointment. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express, Shot on Xiaomi 14)

The visit to the Leica headquarters in Wetzlar was a truly profound experience, and I’m not even exaggerating. I had the opportunity to understand firsthand how Leica perceives photography, its history, and perhaps gain insight into why its cameras are so expensive. The tour and the time I spent at the Leica headquarters were a masterclass in how it feels to hold a Leica camera in your hand and what sets it apart. I acquired knowledge about optics, electronics, and software, among other things, and gained a better understanding of the basics of photography. Even if I have to brave the chilly cold of Wetzlar, I would want to take a risk and spend more time at Leitz Park.